EcoWaste Coalition is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups pursuing sustainable solutions
to waste, climate change and chemical issues facing the Philippines and the world.

20 December 2018

Groups at the forefront of the country’s efforts to make
all paints safe from lead, a hazardous chemical, have affirmed their unity to
promote compliance to the national phase-out target for lead-added industrial
paints by December 31, 2019

The Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers (PAPM)
and the EcoWaste Coalition made the affirmation through a joint statement to
mark the fifth anniversary of the trailblazing Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2013-24 issued on December
23, 2013.

Also known as the Chemical Control Order for Lead and
Lead Compounds, the said policy directs the phase-out of lead-containing paints
used for industrial applications by December 31, 2019.

“After completing the phase-outof lead-containing architectural, household
and decorative paints last December 31, 2016, paint makers are now setting
their sights on meeting the phase-outtarget for paints intended for industrial applications that still
contain lead additives,” said Vergel Dyoco, Technical Committee Chairman of
PAPM and Technical Service Department Manager, Pacific Paint (Boysen)
Philippines, Inc.

“Our paint manufacturers are investing resources to find
feasible replacements to lead-based raw materials in order to abide by the 2019
deadline for phasing out lead-added paints used for cars, aircrafts, boats,
appliances, metal sheets and other industrial uses,” he said.

“The completion by December 2019 of the phase-out goal
for lead-containing industrial paints will bea historic milestone in our common mission to eliminate lead paint, a
preventable source of childhood lead exposure, in all paint categories,” said
Manny Calonzo, Adviser, EcoWaste Coalition.

“The world will be watching as the Philippine paint
industry transitions to full lead-safe paint production by 2020, a meaningful
achievement that we all can be proud of because of its tremendous benefits to
human health as well as to the economy,” he added.

As stated in a 2018 resource pack published by the World
Health Organization, United Nations Environment and the Global Alliance to
Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance): “Lead is especially dangerous to
children’s developing brains, and can cause reduced intelligence quotient (IQ)
and attention span, impaired learning ability, and increased risk of behavioral
problems. These health impacts also have significant economic costs to
countries.”

As explained by the Lead Paint Alliance, which includes
the DENR, PAPM, Pacific Paint (Boysen), EcoWaste Coalition and IPEN (a global
NGO network campaigning for a toxics-free future) among its partners: “The
weathering, peeling or chipping of old lead paint releases lead into dust and
soil, in and around homes, schools and other locations.Dust contaminated with lead can also be
brought into the home on the clothes of those who work in industries where such
dust is generated, including paint factories where lead continues to be used.”

“Lead-contaminated soil and dust are easily ingested and absorbed, particularly
by young children when they play on the floor or outdoors and put their hands
or objects in their mouths. Children also ingest lead if they mouth and chew
toys painted with lead paint,” the alliance said.

Children as well as adults can be exposed to lead in
paint chips and dust generated during the removal of old paint; hence the need
to popularize and observe lead-safe work practices, the PAPM and EcoWaste
Coalition pointed out.

Health risks to children, pregnant women, and workers can
be prevented by making and using paints with no lead additives and adhering to
lead-safe work practices, the groups jointly emphasized.

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is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups pursuing sustainable solutions to waste, climate change and chemical issues facing the Philippines and the world.